Golf shoe outsole

ABSTRACT

The present invention is further directed towards a golf shoe having an outsole comprising of forward and rear base sections that are connected and molded together with an arch support shank. The base sections are relatively soft and made from thermoplastic polyurethane having a maximum Shore A hardness of between 75 to 85. The shank is also made of thermoplastic polyurethane having a minimum hardness of at least 95 Shore A hardness. Each base section has a plurality of openings, wherein a corresponding plurality of relatively hard pods are molded, each pod of a size and configuration to fit within a corresponding opening and extend at least 6.3 mm from the bottom surfaces of the base sections. The shoe provides flexibility both across the metatarsal area and longitudinally at approximately the metatarsal area thereby providing the golfer with improved traction and balance, especially when the golfer executes a golf shot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a golf shoe. More particularly, thepresent invention is directed to a golf shoe utilizing stability pods toenable greater flexibility, balance, and traction for the golfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, people first wore shoes to protect their feet. Over thecenturies, footwear evolved into many different types that were specificto particular activities. Thus, the protection offered by a cold-weatherwork boot is highly different from that offered by a running shoe. Inaddition to protecting the feet, athletic footwear has further developedto offer specific functions dependent on the particular sport. Soccershoes, for instance, have spikes for traction, whereas cycling shoeshave very stiff soles with mounting plates for cleats to engage thepedal. In this manner, golf shoes have evolved to provide the wearerwith good traction on grass, comfort while walking, and a stableplatform for hitting the ball. Typical golf shoes have had a relativelystiff sole with metal spikes or plastic cleats.

A stiff sole, while providing a stable platform, can nonetheless causediscomfort because there is a balance between how the foot should beallowed to move versus how it should be supported. An example of this isthe fact that during walking and at the start and finish of the golfswing, the foot bends at the metatarsal joints (the ball). Aside fromthe physical effort needed to flex a very stiff sole (which would tendto cause a ‘clunky’ gait as when wearing clogs), sole stiffness tends tocause the heel of the foot to slide up and down in the heel cup,potentially causing blisters. Thus, golf shoes have evolved to havesoles that flex across the ball area to allow this movement withoutcompromising the lateral stability of a good hitting platform.

However, relatively recent studies in biomechanics have sought to betterquantify how the 26 bones of the foot move relative to each other duringhuman movements. One particular motion that has been identified is atorsional movement about the long axis of the foot. In effect, theforefoot and rear foot twist relative to each other. It is thought thatthis movement smoothes the contact between foot and ground, decreasingimpacts with the ground as well as providing better ground contact. Thisobservation has led to the development of a golf shoe sole to allow thisnatural movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,597 discloses a device that facilitates the naturalrolling action of the foot during movement by providing a flatconstruction with front and rear main lifting sections rigidly connectedto a resilient intermediate section that is twisted into the form of aflat torsion spring. The device applies a yieldable torsion actionduring use that is applied to the foot by the lifting sections, wherebythe heel of the foot is urged upwardly at the inner side and theforefoot is raised upwardly at the outer side, producing a torsionaction similar to the natural torsion action of the foot.

Another construction intended to provide greater support to the wearerof the shoe is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,974 to Friton. TheFriton shoe has a sole that is not designed for golf, but for hiking. Itdiscloses the use of pods and lugs for traction elements that incombination provide greater traction or irregular ground conditions.However, the teachings of this patent are atypical of what is requiredfor a golf shoe. Patent '974 discloses a plurality of pods that arerelatively soft, such that they may fan out and serve as compressioncushions therein increasing the area of ground contact to improvetraction, much the way the hoofs of a mountain goat react. The presentinvention utilizes relatively hard pods for an entirely different typeof terrain.

There remains a need for an improved outsole for a golf shoe thatenables an individual movement of the foot, particularly, the rotationbetween the rear foot and the forefoot, flexing across the foot of thewearer, and also the ability of the shoe to provide flexibility not justacross but longitudinally along the metatarsal area of the foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is further directed towards a golf shoe comprisedof an upper and an outsole, with a mid-sole connecting the upper to theoutsole. The outsole has a generally soft, and flexible forward and rearbase sections, each section having openings of a predetermined size andshape wherein a corresponding like number of stability pods, along withan arch support shank, are molded to the sections to create an outsole.Each stability pod has means for releasably connecting a non-metal cleatfor enhanced gripping of turf. The attaching means comprising of asocket containing a cleat receptacle that requires only a 45° clockwiseturn to install and a 45° conterclockwise turn to release.

The golf shoe of the present invention uses stability pods made fromhard polyurethane having a minimum Shore A hardness of 95. The podsextend at least 6.3 mm from a bottom surface of the outsole. A multitudeof relatively hard projections extend outwardly form the bottom surfaceof the outsole for increased traction.

The forward and rear base sections are made from relatively thin,flexible thermoplastic polyurethane having a Shore A hardness between 75and 85.

An embodiment of the present invention provides for the forward and rearbase sections to be separate pieces and molded together with the archsupport shank, wherein the shoe may flex longitudinally as well asacross the metatarsal area, thereby providing the golfer with improvedflexibility, traction with the turf, and balance, especially when thegolfer executes a golf shot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention,the following drawings have been provided wherein

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a golf shoe having an outsole;

FIG. 2 is a bottom, perspective view of an outsole of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the outsole of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the outsole of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an expanded bottom view of the outsole; and

FIG. 6 is an expanded top view of the outsole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional golf shoe 10 usually includes anupper 12, an outsole 14, and typically a lightweight, cushioningmid-sole 16, which connects the upper 12 to the outsole 14. Golf shoesmay have cleats 40 which can be metal or non-metal, but in discussingthe present invention it is to be assumed that only non-metal cleatswill be employed. The upper 12 has a generally conventional shape and isformed from a suitable upper material, such as leather or the like. Anopening 15 is formed by the top portion of the upper 12 for receiving auser's foot. The mid-sole 16 provides cushioning to the wearer, and isformed of a material such as an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).Mid-soles 16 may be formed on and about outsole 14, but can be formedseparately from the outsole 14 and joined thereto such as by adhesive.Once the mid-sole 16 and outsole 14 are joined, the outsole forms asubstantial portion of the bottom of shoe 10. Upper 12 is preferablysecured to mid-sole 16 with cement or other adhesives using an insoleboard and conventional techniques, as known by those of ordinary skillin the art.

An embodiment of the invention has an improved outsole 14 which isconstructed and shown on FIGS. 2-6. The outsole 14 includes relativelysoft and flexible forward and rear base sections 18 and 20. Both basesections 18, 20 have openings of a predetermined size and perimetershape. Openings 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e are located in the forwardbase section 18 and 22 f and 22 g are located in the rear base section20. Stability pods 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, and 24 e, havingpredetermined sizes and configurations, are molded to respectiveopenings 22 a-22 e, while pods 24 f and 24 g are molded to respectiveopenings 22 f, and 22 g. An arch support shank 26 is molded to andinterconnects the forward and rear base sections 18 and 20. The basesections 18 and 20 have a top surface 28 and a bottom surface 30, andthe bottom surface 30 is configured to contact the turf or ground duringuse. The bottom surfaces 30 of both sections 18, 20, include a pluralityof relatively hard gripping and wear resistant projections 42. Theforward part of the shoe 10 is designated as the toe 21 and the rearpart as the heel 23.

Each stability pod 24 a-g has a socket 32 housing a cleat receptacle forreleasably connecting a turf gripping cleat 40 therein. The cleatreceptacle only requires a 45° clockwise twist turn to attach, and a 45°reverse turn to release. Turf gripping cleats 40 provide increasedtraction and balance for the golfer especially when the golfer executesa golf shot. The number of pods and cleats are a function of the shoestyle but preferably the number of pods on each shoe is between sevenand nine, preferably seven as shown in the drawings herein, with five onthe forward base section 18 and two on the rear base section 20. Cleats40 are preferably non-metallic as most golf courses now make that arequirement for course play.

In a preferred embodiment, the forward and rear base sections 18 and 20may be formed of flexible plastic material such as thermoplasticpolyurethane as manufactured by URE-TECH CO, LTD located in Taiwan underthe name Utechllan UTY-75A-85A with a durometer of about 75 to 85 ShoreA hardness. The stability pods 24 a-g are also of a polyurethanematerial manufactured by Ure-Tech and have a hardness of at least 95A.The arch support shank 26 is made of a hard plastic having a hardness ofat least 95A.

The stability pods 24 a-g are made of a relatively hard, wear resistantmaterial of at least 95 Shore A hardness. The outer perimeter of thepods extend a minimum distance x of about 6.3 mm from the bottom surface28 of the forward and rear base sections 18 and 20. The pods 24 a-g, asbest shown on FIG. 3, are of varying dimensions, and are spaced suchthat they not only allow the forward base section 18 the ability to flexacross the metatarsal region, but also allow it the ability to flexlongitudinally from the toe 21 to the shank 26. As previously stated,each pod has a cleat releasably attached that provides a measure oftraction, which is supplemented by a multitude of relatively hardprojections 42 protruding from the bottom surface of each pod. Stabilitypods 24 a-g are formed such that the perimeter of each pod defines lugs44 which provide additional gripping and constructional strength.

While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is wellcalculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciatedthat modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled inthe art. For example, the outsole 14 and other features thereofdiscussed above may be used with other types of shoes, not just golfshoes. The appended claims cover all such modifications and embodimentsas fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. An outsole comprising: a flexible and relatively soft forward basesection molded to a rear base section by a shank section; a plurality ofrelatively hard stability pods molded to the forward base section, eachpod having means to releasably attach a cleat thereupon; each pod havinga multitude of relatively hard projections protruding from the bottomsurface of each respective pod; a flex area across the metatarsal regionof the outsole and a corresponding flex area longitudinally from the toeof the outsole to the shank section; wherein, the shoe will provide agreater degree of flexibility and traction with the turf, and thereforegreater stability and balance for the user.
 2. The outsole of claim 1,wherein the pods are made from relatively hard thermoplasticpolyurethane having a minimum Shore A hardness of
 95. 3. The outsole ofclaim 1, wherein the pods extend at least 6.3 mm from a bottom surfaceof the base sections.
 4. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the forward andrear base sections are made from relatively thin flexible thermoplasticpolyurethane having a hardness between 75 to 85 Shore A.
 5. The outsoleof claim 1, wherein the forward and rear base sections are made fromrelatively thin flexible thermoplastic polyurethane having a Shore Ahardness no greater than
 75. 6. The outsole of claim 1, wherein thereare five pods molded to the forward base section and two pods molded tothe rear base section.
 7. The outsole of claim 1, wherein there are sixpods molded to the forward base section and two pods molded to the rearbase section.
 8. The outsole of claim 1, wherein there are six podsmolded to the forward base section and three pods molded to the rearbase section.
 9. The outsole of claim 1, wherein there are seven podsmolded to the forward base section and two pods molded to the rear basesection.
 10. The outsole of claim 1, wherein there are seven pods moldedto the forward base section and three pods molded to the rear basesection.
 11. The outsole of claim 1, wherein there are seven pods moldedto the forward base section and four pods molded to the rear basesection.
 12. The outsole of claim 1, wherein the forward and rear basesections are molded together by the arch support shank to form a unitaryoutsole.
 13. The outsole of claim 10, wherein the cleat attaching meanscomprises a socket containing a cleat receptacle requiring only a 45°clockwise turn to install or a 45° counterclockwise turn to remove.